Guide for Online Permit Portal
Sal Gaeta
Chief Building Official
Johns Creek, GA 30097
Building Permit: Process Overview
Trade Permit: Process Overview
Need Additional Help?
For permit assistance, please contact our Permit Technicians at 678-512-3250 or email BuildingPermits@JohnsCreekGA.gov. Visit the Permit Counter at City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive, during business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
For technical assistance, please call 678-512-3200 or email info@JohnsCreekGA.gov.
Building Permit: Process Overview
A Building Permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure. View Do I Need a Permit? for guidance.
Building permits are managed online through the City of Johns Creek’s Customer Self-Service (CSS) Portal. Applicants and contractors must first register for a User Account.
- Contractors must also register their Professional Licenses on the CSS Portal before applying for permits.
Applications are completed, and electronic plans and related documents are submitted on the CSS Portal.
Fee payment, plan reviews, permit documents, and inspections are all handled through the CSS Portal. - View Managing Permits in the CSS Portal to learn how to navigate the portal.
View the Trade Permit: Process Overview section below for information about Trade Subcontractor and Trade Stand-Alone permits.
There are six basic steps in the building permit process:
- Application
- Fee Payment
- Plan Review
- Permit Issuance
- Inspections
- Certificate of Occupancy/Completion
Permits must be issued and posted on the job site before any work begins. No trade subcontractor permits are issued before the related building permit is issued. If there is a Land Disturbance Permit (LDP) related to the property, the LDP must be issued before applying for the building permit.
Application
Review the submittal and plan requirements for the type of permit you need before applying. Provide all information requested. Incomplete applications will be rejected, and insufficient plans will
require resubmittals. A resubmittal fee is for the third and subsequent plan reviews. Follow the File Format & Naming Requirements rules for initial document submittals and resubmittals.
Fee Payment
Building permit fees must be paid before plan reviews can begin. You will be notified when the invoice is ready to be viewed and paid on the CSS Portal. You may also pay fees at City Hall during business
hours.
Plan Review
Plans are reviewed by up to four Divisions (depending on permit type): Building, Planning & Zoning, Land Development, and Fire Marshal.
Allow a minimum of five (5) business days for reviews to be completed. You may track the progress of the plan reviews in the CSS Portal, but will not receive Correction Comments until all reviews are
completed. Do not contact individual reviewers or request status updates before the review cycle is completed.
If a resubmittal is required, the applicant will be notified that Correction Comments are available on the CSS Portal. A written response to each comment is required when resubmitting corrected plans and
requested documents. Contact the reviewer directly with questions about the corrections requested.
If the permit is not issued within 180 days of the application date, the application is deemed abandoned.
Permit Issuance
When plans are approved, the permit is issued. The applicant will be notified to download and print the permit card and approved plans, as both must be on the job site. When the building permit is issued, the trade subcontractors may apply for Trade Sub Permits (see below). No trade work may begin until required permits are obtained and posted on the job site.
Permits are active and valid for 180 days from the date of issue or the date of the latest building inspection passed. A permit is deemed abandoned and void if work does not commence or stops for 180 days (meaning no building inspection has passed in 180 days or more). A permit extension (for unexpired permits) or renewal (if permit expired) may be requested for valid reasons (fees apply).
If any information on the plans or application documents is found to be false, or if work exceeds the scope of the work permitted, the permit may be revoked and/or a stop work order may be issued.
Inspections
Inspections are scheduled by the general contractor on the CSS Portal. Trade subcontractors, business owners, and property owners do not schedule inspections. When there are multiple trades on a project,
combo rough and combo final inspections cover all the trade work in one site visit.
Site Initial inspection must be passed before any work is performed. (Interior alterations do not require site inspections.) Erosion control and tree protection measures, construction exit, and dumpster must be in place before scheduling the Site Initial inspection. The permit(s) must be posted, and the approved plans must be on site in a secure, dry location.
- In general, follow the sequence of required inspections as listed.
- Work should not be covered up until inspected.
- All projects must pass the final inspection(s) (Building and, if applicable, Site).
- If you need an inspection that’s not listed, contact the Permit Techs at 678-512-3250
Inspections requested made by 4 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day. (For example, an inspection requested after 4 p.m. on Friday will be scheduled for Tuesday.) Check the calendar on the City website to find out when City Hall is closed for holidays. We will try to honor AM/PM requests if possible.
You may cancel an inspection on the CSS Portal up until 7:30 a.m. on the inspection day. Call the Building Division at 678-512-3250 if you need assistance.
The general contractor or job superintendent should be on site for inspections to answer questions and discuss code violations/corrections with the inspector. When requesting inspections, provide a contact name and phone number, along with special instructions (gate codes, dog in yard, e.g.).
The inspector posts inspection results and any comments/violations on the CSS Portal after the inspection. There is a re-inspection fee for failed inspections, which must be paid before the next inspection may be scheduled.
Certificate of Occupancy/Completion
New construction, additions, and commercial interior alterations require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) before the space may be occupied legally. The Building Official may require a Certificate of Occupancy for some other structures/projects.
A CO request must be submitted on the CSS Portal by the general contractor. For new residential structures, provide a Georgia Energy Code Compliance Certificate. If an as-built survey is required, it must be submitted as well. A CO fee will be invoiced and must be paid before the Building Official reviews the permit documents and authorizes the CO. The general contractor will be notified when the CO is issued and available to be downloaded and printed from the CSS Portal.
An optional Certificate of Completion (CC) may be requested for building projects not requiring a CO. The general contractor or property owner may submit a CC request on the CSS Portal within 30 days of the final inspection. There is a fee, which must be paid before the CC is issued. Please note that Certificates of Completion are not available for sheds, pergolas, and similar small structures; for window, roof, or siding replacement; retaining walls; or trade work.
Trade Permit: Process Overview
A Trade Permit is required to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, or low voltage system. View Do I Need a Permit?
Trade Sub Permits are work related to an active Building Permit. Stand-Alone Permits are used when trade work to be performed is not associated with work requiring a building permit.
There are four basic steps in the trade permit process:
Trade permits don’t typically require plan review (except solar panels and commercial hoods), so they’re usually issued within one business day after fees are paid
- Application
- Fee Payment
- Permit Issuance
- Inspections
Trade permits are managed online through the City of Johns Creek’s Customer Self-Service (CSS) Portal.
- Applicants and contractors must first register for a User Account.
Contractors must also register their licenses (State and business licenses) on the CSS Portal before applying for permits.
Applications are completed and submitted, along with related documents, on the CSS Portal.
Fee payment, permit documents, and inspections are all handled through the CSS Portal.
See our CSS Portal User Guides to learn how to navigate the portal.
Applicants and contractors must first register for a User Account.
Contractors must also register their licenses (State and business licenses) on the CSS Portal before applying for permits.
Applications are completed and submitted, along with related documents, on the CSS Portal.
Fee payment, permit documents, and inspections are all handled through the CSS Portal.
See our CSS Portal User Guides to learn how to navigate the portal.
Permits must be issued and posted on the job site before any work begins. Apply for trade subcontractor permits after the related building permit is issued. A Stop Work Order will be issued if work is performed without a permit or if work exceeds the scope of the permit.
Application
Provide all information requested. Incomplete and incorrect applications will be rejected.
Review the Building Permit Submittal Requirements for any submittal requirements for the type of permit you need before applying.
If you attach any documents to your application, follow the File Format & Naming Requirements for initial document submittals and resubmittals.
If the permit is not issued within 180 days of the application date, the application is deemed abandoned.
Fee Payment
Trade permit fees must be paid before the permit can be issued. The invoice will be emailed to the applicant and may be paid on the CSS Portal. You may also pay fees at City Hall during business hours.
Permit Issuance
You will be notified when the permit is issued. Log into the CSS Portal to print out the permit and post it on the job site. Inspections will not be performed if the permit is not posted.
If the permit is not issued within 180 days of the application date, the application is deemed abandoned. Permits are active and valid for 180 days from the date of issue or the date of the latest building
inspection passed. A permit is considered abandoned and void if work does not commence or stops for 180 days (meaning no building inspection has passed in 180 days or more). A permit extension (for unexpired permits) or renewal (if permit expired) may be requested for valid reasons (fees apply).
Inspections
Inspections are scheduled by the contractor on the CSS Portal. Business owners and property owners should not schedule inspections.
For Trade Sub Permits, inspections are scheduled by the general contractor. When there are multiple trades on a project, combo rough and combo final inspections will cover all the trade work in one site visit.
- In general, follow the sequence of required inspections as listed.
- Work should not be covered up until inspected.
- All work must pass the final inspection.
- If you need an inspection that’s not listed, contact the Permit Techs at 678-512-3250.
Inspections requested made by 4:00 p.m. will be scheduled for the next business day. (For example, an inspection requested after 4:00 p.m. on Friday will be scheduled for Tuesday.) Check the calendar on the City website to find out when we’ll be closed for holidays.
Inspections may be cancelled on the CSS Portal up until 8:30 a.m. on the inspection day. Call the Building Division at 678-512-3250.
The contractor should be on site for inspections to answer questions and discuss code violations/corrections with the inspector. When requesting inspections, provide a contact name and phone number, along with special instructions (gate codes, dog in yard, e.g.).
Inspection results are emailed and posted on the CSS Portal after the inspection. There is a reinspection fee for failed inspections, which must be paid before the next inspection can be scheduled.